updated 10:20 am EDT, Tue July 3, 2007

Kenmos MacBook LEDs

Taiwan-based Kenmos is producing LED backlights for future displays that will land in new 13.3-inch MacBook models, according to unverified sources within the industry. The technology firm's Japanese overseer and stakeholder, Stanley Electric, has reportedly been chosen by Apple and its display producer Chi-Mei to produce the lighting for the smaller portable. The introduction would give the MacBook the same advantages in battery life, brightness, and color accuracy as the most recent 15.4-inch MacBook Pro when compared to today's cold-cathode fluorescent (CCFL) backlights.

No indication was given as to when the Apple notebooks themselves would be ready, though over 100,000 of the LED backlights were set to ship for a new model from an unknown "international company," according to the claim. The mention of a completely new system excludes computer makers such as Dell, which has already shipped its 13.3-inch XPS M1330 with the option of an LED-backlit display.

With such a production schedule in place, completed systems would likely follow in subsequent weeks, as the backlights would need to be mated with Chi-Mei LCD displays and then installed into the finished computers.

six months or so

I've been tracking when these "manufacturer reports" are made versus when the actual improved product appears, and it's always about six months or so. Thus, new MacBooks in January. There, that was easy.